Tilting file for folders



Sept. 29, 1970 A. DREUX TILTING FILE FOR FOLDERS Filed Aug. 14. 1968 5Sheets$heet l FIG. 1

FIG. 2

p 1970 v A. DREUX 3,531,173.

TILTING FILE FOR FOLDERS Filed Aug. 14, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Old Se t.29, 1970 A. DREUX TILTING FILE FOR FOLDERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug.14, 1968 FIG. 4

Se t. 29, 1970 A. DREUX TILTING FILE FOR FOLDERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Aug. 14. 1968 FIG. 5

Sept. 29, 1970 A. DREUX 3,531,173

J v I v TILTING FILE FOR FOLDERS Filed m 14, 19 68 5 Sheets-Sheet 5United States Patent 3,531,173 TILTING FILE FOR FOLDERS Alexandre Dreux,Rua Luis Afonso 66, Porto Alegre, Brazil Filed Aug. 14, 1968, Ser. No.752,614 Claims priority, application Brazil, Aug. 14, 1967,

Int. Cl. A47b 88/00 U.S. Cl. 312-328 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A tilting file is provided in which a casing includes aframework on which is mounted a horizontal rod from which is suspended acradle-type platform adapted for supporting a plurality of fiat foldershaving at the upper corner extremities thereof hooks which are hookedover and therefore pivotally engaged with the horizontal rod. A catch isprovided for retaining the platform within the casing, there beingfurther provided a release or control by means of which the catch isrendered ineffective so that the platform under the influence of gravitywill pivot outwardly from the casing so that the folders protrudeangularly from the casing. A limit device is provided to limit theamount by which the files will protrude and a masking device is providedto conceal the bottom of the platform and to move yieldingly against thebottom of the platform as the platform moves into its protrudingposition.

DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a file provided inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1illustrating the folders in protruding attitude;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of an internal framework of the casing ofthe apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating the manner in which thefolders are supported;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3 with thefolders in withdrawn attitude;

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 with the folders in protrudingattitude;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cradle-type platform on which thefolders are supported;

FIG. 7 is a partially broken away view illustrating the catch mechanismemployed in accordance with the invention and the operating systemtherefor; and

FIG. 8 illustrates the masking element employed in the apparatus ofFIGS. 1-5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION This invention relates to files and moreparticularly to the type of file wherein a plurality of folders arearranged for selective removal.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved file of theabove-noted type which is readily operated to provide access to storedarticles, such as correspondence and documents.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved fileconstruction which elfects a major economy with respect to theutilization of space.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a file which inoperation will have a beautiful appearance and may be very well matchedwith various styles of office furniture to preserve the overallappearance of the office in which such file is installed.

To achieve the proper and other of the objects of the invention, thereis proposed a casing within which is supported a framework on which isinstalled a horizontal rod from which are concomitantly suspended acradle- 3,53l,l73 Patented Sept. 29, 1970 ice type platform and aplurality of folders, the folders being supported by hooks on the rodwhile, at the same time, resting at their bottoms on the cradle-typeplatform.

The platform is pivotable from a withdrawn position to a second positionin which the folders protrude angularly from the casing, in whichposition the folders are readily engageable for removal from the casing,this being elfected simply by removing the hooks from the aforesaid rod.

As will be seen, it suffices simply to press a button whereupon all ofthe filed folders turn through an angle of about 40 degrees, moving froma vertical stored attitude to a tilted position and automaticallyprojecting from the file as a result of which the folders can be engagedand removed as aforesaid.

The angle of inspection which is thereby provided with respect to thefiles greatly facilitates locating the desired folder and after thefolder is located, the removal of the folder from the file is anextremely simple matter as has been indicated above. At the same time,the replacing of the removed folder back into the file is a matter ofextreme convenience as is afforded in accordance with the variousfeatures of the invention.

The cabinet of the apparatus of the invention may be made of wood orsteel, or aluminum or the like and the internal mechanism is of anextremely simple design which may be made up, for example, ofrectangular steel tubes, thereby effecting an extreme economy both withrespect to labor and materials.

The above objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment as is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, the file F is seen to comprise a cabinet C supported onfour legs L. The front legs may be provided with adjustable members Awhereby the height of the assembly and the tilted attitude thereof canbe compensated with respect to carpets, floor coverings and the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, there are provided two compartments orchambers K1 and K2 with respect to which there are further provideddoors D having handles H by means of which the doors can be opened toexpose the contents of the cabinet.

FIG. 1 illustrates one of the compartments K1 in closed condition withthe doors concealing the opening of the compartment and thereforeconcealing and protecting the contents thereof. This figure alsoillustrates the doors of compartment K2 open, thereby exposing thefolders in the compartment K2 as well as various other operating memberswhich will be discussed hereinunder. It is to be noted that the doors Dcan be of the concealed type which are withdrawn into the cabinet uponbeing opened.

FIG. 2 illustrates the folders which have been brought from a verticalconcealed attitude to an attitude in which they are exposed, by reasonof angularly protruding from their respective compartments. The mannerin which this is brought about will be next explained hereinafter.

Referring next to FIG. 3, it is seen that within the cabinet C ismounted a frame or framework 1 which is concealed within the cabinet anddefines with the latter the chambers in which the folders are to beaccommodated.

The framework 1 supports a horizontal rod 2 which may be fabricated ofsteel tubing, aluminum or the like. The frame 1 is provided with aplurality of legs 3 supporting the frame 1 within the cabinet. As analternative these legs may protrude from the cabinet and constitute thelegs of the complete file.

In order to provide for suspension of the folders, there are providedtwo depending arms 4 which are pivotally 3 engaged with the horizontalrod 2 which may be held in position in the frame 1 by the use of lockingmembers or screws 5. g

The depending arms 4 pivot as will be described in greater detailhereinafter, but are limited in forward movement due to the provision ofcooperating limit members 6 and 6. The member 6 may be a rubber block orthe like fixed on the frame 1, whereas the limit member 6 on each arm 4will be a flap which is integral or rigid with the associated arm.

The arms 4 are preferably of a metal, such as steel, and cooperate witha plat'form 7 to constitute a cradletype platform on which rest thefolders which are indicated generally at Y. The folders Y are flatbook-type folders of generally rectangular configuration which not onlyrest on the platform 7, but are moreover supported in a second manner aswill be indicated hereinafter.

In order to retain the platform 7 in withdrawn or retracted attitude,there is provided a catch system to be hereinafter described. This catchsystem is controlled by a control indicated generally at 8, including anexposed operating member 9 forming part of an operating system whichwill be hereinafter described.

It is to be noted that the platform 7 is normally urged to the forwardor protruding attitude solely under the infiuence of gravitationalforces acting to move the platform 7 pivotally about horizontal rod 2,since the platform 7 is pivotally supported at a corner thereof offsetfrom the center of gravity of the platform as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Also to be noted as a further feature of the invention is the maskingelement 11 which conceals the opening beneath the platform 7 and, aswill be shown, rides yieldably against the bottom of the platform as theplatform 7 moves into the protruding attitude as will also be seenhereinafter.

Referring also to FIG. 7 it will now be seen that the file of theinvention incorporates a catch mechanism 12 provided with a latch stop12'; there being also incorporated as part of an operating system, alatch release rod 14' which is urged away from the catch arrangement bymeans of a spring 13. The latch release rod 14' is connected to theoperating member or button 9 by means of which the rod 14 is given anaxial displacement against the catch mechanism 12.

The catch mechanism is yieldingly urged to a position of engagement witha rear cradle curb 15 installed at the back of the platform 7 andyieldably engages a notch 17 in the cradle curb 15 under the influenceof spring 14 by means of which the platform 7 is held in retracted orwithdrawn position in which the folders are retracted within therespective chambers.

Finally, each of the folders Y is provided at an upper corner extremitywith a hook 16 fabricated of metal, plastic or the like, the hookdetachably engaging in pivtal manner around the rod 2 whereby the'folders Y can be displaced with the platform 7 and readily removed fromthe cabinet.

FIG. 8 illustrates that the springs 10 are engaged with the extremitiesof a bent rod forming part of the masking flap 10 whereby a yieldabletension is applied to said rod when the platform is moved into itsretracted position, thereby drawing the flap 11 into the illustratedvertical attitude.

In operation, a plurality or multitude of folders Y are supported inbook-like relationship on the platform 7, the platform 7 being in theretracted position illustrated, for example, in FIG. 1. By manualengagement of the operating member 9 supported in element 8, the rod 14is given an axial displacement against spring 13 and disengagcs catch 12from notch 17 thereby allowing the platform 7 to tilt to its forwardposition as shown in FIG. 5, due to the offset position of the center ofgravity of platform 7 and the folders carried thereby with respect to apivot axis passing through rod 2. The platform 7 tilts forward untillimit element 6 engages limit element 6', the platform 7 then being inthe position whereat the folders protrude angularly from the cabinet orcasing as is illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 2 and 5.

At this time the angle through which the folders have moved isconstituted, for example, by an angle lying Within the range of 1560.Preferably, the angle through which the folders move is an angle ofabout 40. The folders then protrude from the associated cabinet orcasing by an amount which makes them readily accessible. At the sametime, as a further feature of the invention, the folders have theirexposed side edges at a position whereat these edges may be readilyinspected to determine the information contained within the respectivefolders.

When a folder has been removed, such as by simply lifting the same fromthe platform 7 and disengaging the respective hook 16 from the rod 12,and the contents of the folder used, the respective folder may bereadily returned to the position on the platform 7 by re-engaging itshook 16 with the rod 2. Thereafter the platform 7 may be returned to itswithdrawn or retracted position by simply exerting a pushing forceagainst the element 8. As previously explained, masking element 11conceals the opening beneath platform 7, said element 11 undergoingpivotal movement as the platform tilts forwardly thereby stressingspring 10 to enable return of the masking element under the action ofspring 10 when the platform is pushed back to its retracted position.

There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many modificationsand variations of the construction set forth above. These modificationsand variations will not depart from the scope of the invention asdefined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A storage device comprising a casing provided with at least oneinternal chamber which opens externally, support means to support anarticle to be stored selectively in a stored first position wherein thearticle is withdrawn into said chamber in a first attitude and anaccessible second position wherein the article is moved from said firstattitude and protrudes partially from said casing to be accessible,means pivotally supporting said support means from said casing such thatsaid support means is urged by gravity to move from said first positionto said second position, and control means to hold said support means insaid first position and prevent movement of the support means from thefirst to the second position, said control means being releasable tofree said support means and move said article from said first to saidsecond position under the influence of gravity.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said chamber openshorizontally and said support means includes a platform pivotallysuspended in said casing for pivotal movement about a horizontal axisbetween said first and second positions.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said support means includes ahorizontal rod in said chamber from which said platform is suspended,comprising generally fiat folders standing in vertical attitude on saidplatform and hooks on the upper extremities of said folders, said hooksbeing pivotally engaged on said rod.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 comprising spring means in said casingand normally urging the platform toward the second position in which thefolders protrude angularly from said chamber.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 comprising catch means controllablyretaining the platform in said first position subject to the operationof said control means.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 comprising cooperating limit means onsaid casing and platform to limit the protrusion of the latter from saidchamber.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said control means includes anoperating system mounted on said platform and engageable with said catchmeans to operate the latter, said system being exposed outside of saidchamber for manual operation.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 comprising doors yieldably pp g Said pincludes a rod coupled W on said casing to close off said chamber. SaidSpring means- 9. A device as claimed in claim 7 comprising a mask-References Clted ing flap below said platform and means yieldably sup-UNITED STATES PATENTS porting said flap which is thereby adapted toslidably 5 2 749 202 195 Ritzerfeld et aL 312 327 and yieldingly engagethe bottom of said platform as 3,049,115 3/1962 Camahan et 1 312 3 9 Xthe latter moves from one position to another. 3,081,138 3/1963 Stebbins312-319 10. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said fold- 3,194,4047/ 1965 Wright et a1 312-328 X ers are rectangular book-type folders.

11. A device as claimed in claim 7 comprising legs 10 JAMES MCCALLPnmary Exammer supporting said casing in elevated position. US, Cl. X.R.

12. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the means 312-222,

